The second leg of the Copa Libertadores closing is not going to happen in Argentina – offering it even goes forward in any respect.

CONMEBOL introduced on Tuesday that it will not be “prudent” to permit River Plate to host the match towards Boca Juniors, which was postponed after the guests’ crew bus was attacked by residence followers en path to the stadium on Saturday. Having a G20 summit in Buenos Aires on Friday is not going to assist the stretched police forces, both.

A disciplinary tribunal is assembly to determine whether or not or to not disqualify River following the incident – a sanction Boca are eager to see enforced – however, if CONMEBOL’s disciplinary tribunal decides the match might be performed on the newly proposed dates of both December eight or 9, then they need to discover a prepared venue.

There are 4 primary candidates: Asuncion, Genoa, Miami, and the United Arab Emirates. However which is probably?

ASUNCION

Paraguay’s capital metropolis seems one of many easiest options to the issue.

It’s the location of CONMEBOL’s headquarters, the place River and Boca’s presidents met with continental executives on Tuesday to debate what occurs subsequent. It’s only a two-hour flight from Buenos Aires and boasts an acceptable stadium, Estadio Defensores del Chaco, which seats near 42,00zero spectators and was renovated solely three years in the past.

The issue with Asuncion lies within the selection of dates. December eight is the Virgin of Caacupe in Paraguay, an annual spiritual pageant and a nationwide vacation. Staging such a high-profile soccer match over the identical weekend may see safety forces stretched; given CONMEBOL are below large stress to keep away from a repeat of the incidents of final weekend, that’s removed from ultimate.

GENOA

The northern Italian metropolis of Genoa has already supplied to host the match. The regional sports activities director, Stefano Anzalone, stated they might be “very proud” to welcome Boca and River and added that such an event would “give worldwide visibility to Genoa” as town makes an attempt to get well from the tragic collapse of the Morandi Bridge in August, which killed dozens of individuals.

There has all the time been a robust hyperlink between Genoa, River and Boca, given each golf equipment had been based by Italians who emigrated to Argentina within the early 1900s. However Genoa play on the Luigi Ferraris on December 9 towards SPAL, which provides to the logistical nightmare for all involved, even earlier than the journey time of greater than 15 hours is factored in.

“A humiliation.”

“A stain on Argentine soccer.”

How Boca Juniors followers reacted to the bus assault that induced the 2nd leg of the Copa Libertadores closing towards River Plate to be postponed pic.twitter.com/dPyYZDKCQD

Miami is definitely a shorter journey than Genoa, and it’s reported metropolis officers can be glad to stage the match on the large Laborious Rock Stadium, residence of the NFL’s Miami Dolphins.

Curiosity in soccer is rising within the metropolis: Inter Miami, the franchise backed by David Beckham, are as a consequence of begin life in MLS in 2020, and there’s more likely to be nice curiosity in a Superclasico close by among the many Hispanic and South American inhabitants.

The difficulty is, the Dolphins are taking part in on December 9 towards the New England Patriots. As with Genoa, making an attempt to handle two such fixtures over the identical weekend might be vastly problematic.

UAE

The UAE would possibly sound an odd selection at first, but it surely really seems to be one of the vital wise.

Though travelling such distance sounds unappealing, the winner of the ultimate can be heading to the Gulf state later anyway for the Membership World Cup, which begins in Al Ain on December 12.

Both of the Membership World Cup venues, Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium or Zayed Sports activities Metropolis Stadium, can be greater than enough for the Libertadores showdown. The winter local weather would even be accommodating, and the nation itself would bounce on the probability to extend their standing on soccer’s international stage by internet hosting such an occasion in environment friendly vogue.